Plant lipids - a comparative study on TLC systems

ABSTRACT

Plant lipids were studied on a number of ordinary and silver nitrate impregnated silica gel TLC systems. A good resolution of the plant lipids was achieved. Specially the phytosteryl acetates showed a better resolution on silver nitrate plates when developed in pure chloroform [TLC system I-C]. Similarly for the fatty acid methyl esters [FAME] silver nitrate plates in benzene; hexane [TIC system I-a] exhibited a preference over the other systems used. Tentatively series of saturated and unsaturated phytosterols and fatty acids were detected in the phytosteryl acetates and fatty acid methyl esters of Spinacea oleracea, respectively. Phytosterols, phytosteryl esters and free fatty acids were identified in the lipids of Malvastrum tricuspidatum, Chenopodium murale, Medicago denticulata, and Rumex dentatus